Robert Hamilton

Retired Pastor Robert Lewis Hamilton, 92, of Cherokee Village, passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at Ash Flat Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Ash Flat, Arkansas. He was born June 24, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Harold L. and Ethel Gunst Hamilton. Survivors include his wife, Joyce; their daughter, Rae Ann Talentinow of Conway, Arkansas, and son, Edward “Gus” Scott (KaLinda) of Wayland, Michigan. His first wife, Norma Lee, whom he met on his first day at Theil College, preceded him in death in July 1951. He is survived by their son, Paul Hamilton (Kallima) of Lansing, Michigan. Also preceding him in death was his second wife, Kay. Survivors are their children, Judy Shannon of Hillsdale, Michigan, Karen Seelhoff (Douglas) of Golden, Colorado, and Dr. Roger Ilvonen of Lakewood, Colorado. Mr. Hamilton is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Pastor Bob, as he was affectionately called, graduated from Mt. Airy Seminary in Philadelphia in 1949. He served as pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh (1949-51), associate pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh (1951-52), pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Conneaut, Ohio (1952-56), pastor at Christ The Redeemer Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan (1956-64), and pastor at Christ The Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan (1964-70). He earned a Master’s Degree at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, in Rehabilitation for the Blind and worked as a rehabilitation teacher for the State of Michigan Commission for the Blind (1970-85). In 1997-98 he served as pastor at Lord of the Lake Lutheran Church in Diamond City, Arkansas, and subsequent to that up until his retirement he served as needed at many churches all over Arkansas. He and his wife Joyce settled in Cherokee Village, where the Cherokee Village Lutheran Church, ELCA became his home church. Pastor Bob worshipped, served, and occasionally substituted there as needed. A memorial service celebrating Pastor Bob's life will be at Cherokee Village Lutheran Church, ELCA, located at the corner of Cherokee Road & Okmulgee Road, Cherokee Village, on Saturday, March 4, at 1:00 p.m. All are most cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, please address memorials to Cherokee Village Lutheran Church, ELCA, P.O. Box 985, Cherokee Village, AR 72525, or to Cherokee Village Animal Control, 1531 Hwy 289, Cherokee Village, AR 72529.